Romney visits, prays with Rev. Billy Graham

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — GOP nominee Mitt Romney and Rev. Billy Graham discussed policy and personal connections Thursday at a meeting at the evangelical leader’s home that ended with the men praying together.

"I'll do all I can to help you. And you can quote me on that," Graham said at the end of the 30-minute meeting, which also included his son Franklin.

The men discussed religious freedom and persecution, the conflict in Afghanistan and growing ministries in nations such as China and North Korea.

Romney’s late father, George, the governor of Michigan, was friends with Graham, and the aging evangelist held his first crusade in Grand Rapids, Mich., in the year Romney was born, 1947.

“Dad was active and working on volunteerism to the very end of his life. Every day. Trying to encourage more people to get involved with volunteering here in this country and around the world. He was tireless on the volunteer effort,” Romney said.